The Bears will have to wait at least one more week for cornerback Jaylon Johnson to return to the lineup.
Johnson returned to practice on Friday and was listed as questionable on the team’s final injury report, but the Bears announced on Saturday that he will not be activated from injured reserve ahead of their game against the Vikings. Johnson has been on injured reserve with a groin injury since Week 2.
That Week 2 game was Johnson’s only appearance of the season. He initially injured his groin over the summer.
The Bears still have safety Jaquan Brisker listed as questionable to play due to a back injury. His game status will be determined when the Bears release their inactives 90 minutes ahead of Sunday’s kickoff.
Bears Clips
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy practiced with a bandage on his right hand this week, but the issue won’t stop him from starting against the Bears on Sunday.
McCarthy has no injury designation on the team’s final injury report ahead of Week 11. McCarthy banged his hand on a helmet last weekend, but was able to practice all week and returned to full participation on Thursday.
Sunday’s game will be McCarthy’s third since returning from an ankle injury that kept him out of five games.
The Vikings ruled out edge rusher Jonathan Greenard with a shoulder injury that kept him out of practice this week. They also announced that center Ryan Kelly (concussion) will not be activated from injured reserve this week.
The Bears listed a pair of defensive backs as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Vikings.
Safety Jaquan Brisker (back) is listed as questionable after getting in a limited practice on Friday. Brisker, who had five tackles in last Sunday’s win over the Giants, did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday.
Cornerback Jaylon Johnson (groin) is also listed as questionable. He practiced on Friday for the first time since going on injured reserve after Week 2 and head coach Ben Johnson said, via Kevin Fishbain of TheAthletic.com, that the team has to make sure the veteran corner is in “a good spot” as he tries to get back into game action.
Linebacker T.J. Edwards (hand, hamstring) and wide receiver Jahdae Walker (concussion) were both ruled out.
The Bears are getting one of their top defensive players back on the field.
Chicago announced on Friday that the club has opened the 21-day practice window for cornerback Jaylon Johnson to return from injured reserve.
Johnson has been out with a groin injury that he aggravated in Chicago’s Week 2 loss to Detroit. It was the only game he’s played so far in 2025.
Johnson underwent core muscle surgery to address the issue and is now ready to practice.
A Pro Bowl selection for the second time in 2024, Johnson recorded 53 total tackles, eight passes defensed, two interceptions, and a forced fumble last season.
At 6-3, the Bears play the Vikings on Sunday before hosting the Steelers in Week 12.
The NFL Players Association announced on Friday that Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has been named their Community MVP for Week 11.
Williams, through is Caleb Cares Foundation, flew 40 members of his youth football team from Bowie, Maryland to Chicago for a weekend of activities. The student-athletes attended a workshop on AI with Microsoft before attending the Bears’ win over the Giants in Week 10. After the game, they met with team executives and Williams to hear about their lives and receive advice about their futures.
“So many young people look up to athletes. Caleb Cares exists to empower young people with two essential truths: kindness matters because you never know what battle someone else is fighting; and with belief and hard work, any dream is possible,” Williams said in a statement. “I’m truly honored to receive the NFLPA Community MVP Award for our work and for leading with heart as we empower the next generation.”
The NFLPA will donate $10,000 to Williams’ foundation and he will be eligible for the Alan Page Award along with all of this season’s other weekly MVPs.
Three years ago today, Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson made the catch of his life in a f—kin’ nutty upset of the Bills. He used the anniversary of that unforgettable moment to commit to rediscovering the magic of 2022.
Via Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, Jefferson told reporters that he’s “trying to work back” to that level. Jefferson calls it “savage mode,” complete with an “F-it mentality.”
“Just going out there and just killing it, and not worrying about the plays, not worrying about anything else,” Jefferson said.
He was asked how and why he’s gotten away from that mindset. His short answer: “Life.”
Here’s the longer explanation.
“Just different things going on in my life and just wanting to get back to that kid phase of loving it,” Jefferson said. “I still love football, but overly loving football and overly loving just being out there on Sundays and making the big plays and just being a part of this great organization. So, just wanting to get back mentally into that mode.”
It’s easy to overly love football when football is going well. It was in 2022. And it was in 2024. This year, the Vikings are 4-5 and teetering. They face critical games over the next two weekends against the Bears and Packers. Lose both, and it’s likely lights out on the 2025 season, the sixth of Jefferson’s carrer.
Jefferson also addressed his apparent lack of effort to make a tackle after an interception on a deep ball thrown his way in Sunday’s loss to the Ravens.
“I want to win,” Jefferson said. “I’m not really mad at the situation that I’m in or I’m not mad at the players that we have or the plays that’s being called. Of course, I’m mad after an interception. You want me to be happy and go chase them down? That’s not really something that I want to happen.”
He wants wins to happen. Too often this year, the Vikings are not.
“Of course, the outcome of the game is us losing, and I was the one that’s getting thrown that ball and it is getting picked off,” Jefferson said. “So, a lot of emotion goes towards that. But at the end of the day, I want to win, and I’m an ultra-competitor, and a lot of people that don’t play this game and don’t play sports don’t understand the competitive side of it. So yeah, I want to win, and emotionally, things get heated sometimes and things weren’t going our way at that moment. So, just wanting a better outcome. And of course, the offense that we have, I feel like we should be playing better than what we are.”
So why aren’t they? If the Vikings knew how to quickly fix it, they would. The reality is that they opted not to keep guys like Sam Darnold (who’s team is 7-2) and Daniel Jones (who’s team is 8-2) in order to develop J.J. McCarthy. And there are growing pains, literally and figuratively.
Jefferson nevertheless vouched for McCarthy on Thursday, calling him a “a great player,” “a great quarterback, and “a great kid.” All that may be true, but Jefferson is currently looking for someone who is and will be one thing and one thing only.
A winner.
On Sunday, McCarthy gets his fifth chance to prove that he’s on the right track to becoming that.
There is some positive news on the injury front for the Vikings.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy was upgraded to a full participant in Thursday’s practice after he was limited on Wednesday.
McCarthy is dealing with a minor injury to his right hand after hitting it on a helmet late in the loss to the Ravens.
In his four games this season, McCarthy has completed 53.7 percent of his passes for 692 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions. He’s also rushed for 110 yards with two TDs.
While left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) was full on Wednesday, he did not practice on Thursday. But that has been his usual practice cadence.
Outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard (shoulder) did not practice after he was limited on Wednesday.
Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (neck) was upgraded to a limited participant after he didn’t practice on Wednesday.
Guard Will Fries (calf) and offensive tackle Justin Skule (shoulder) were upgraded from limited to full.
Running back Aaron Jones (shoulder/toe), center Ryan Kelly (concussion), safety Josh Metellus (foot), and tight end Josh Oliver (foot) all remained limited.
Safety Theo Jackson (concussion) remained full.
The Bears had their top two wide receivers back on the field for Thursday’s practice.
DJ Moore (shoulder) and Rome Odunze (ankle) were both listed as limited participants as the Bears continued their preparations for Sunday’s game against the Vikings. Moore and Odunze have appeared on injury reports several times this season, but neither player has missed a game.
Safety Jaquan Brisker (back), linebacker T.J. Edwards (hand, hamstring), guard Joe Thuney (rest), and wide receiver Jahdae Walker did not practice on Thursday.
Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (shoulder) was a full participant after missing Wednesday’s practice. Defensive back Josh Blackwell (concussion), linebacker Ruben Hippolyte (knee), tight end Cole Kmet (back), defensive lineman Dominique Robinson (ankle), and running back D’Andre Swift (hip) were also full participants.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was limited at Wednesday’s practice. McCarthy wore a bandage on his injured right hand for extra protection.
“He hit it on a helmet at one point, late in the game,” coach Kevin O’Connell said, via Will Ragatz of SI.com. “Everything’s checked out. . . . Don’t see that affecting his week of preparation very much at all.”
McCarthy, who missed five games with an ankle injury before returning to start the past two, remains on track to start Sunday’s game against the Bears.
The Vikings were without outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard (shoulder) at Wednesday’s practice.
Offensive guard Will Fries (calf), running back Aaron Jones Sr. (shoulder/toe), center Ryan Kelly (concussion), safety Josh Metellus (foot), tight end Josh Oliver (foot), offensive tackle Justin Skule (shoulder), safety Harrison Smith (rest) and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (neck) were limited.
Bears wide receivers Rome Odunze (ankle) and DJ Moore (shoulder) did not practice on Wednesday.
It marks the fifth consecutive Wednesday practice that Moore has missed. He was listed with hip and groin injuries in Weeks 7, 9 and 10, and only the hip in Week 8. Odunze has missed three consecutive Wednesday practices with a heel injury in Week 9 and heel and ankle injuries in Week 10.
Wide receiver Jahdae Walker (concussion) also was out of practice.
Three starting defensive backs missed the session as well. Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (shoulder) and safety Jaquan Brisker (back) were injured in Sunday’s win over the Giants, and safety Kevin Byard had a rest day on Wednesday.
Linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring) missed a fourth consecutive practice.
Tight end Cole Kmet (back), defensive lineman Dominique Robinson (ankle) and running back D’Andre Swift (hip) were limited.
